Apple Beats Microsoft in First Quarter Profit

[MacRumors]

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Six months ago, Apple surpassed Microsoft in quarterly revenue for the first time in nearly 15 years, marking a milestone on Apple's tremendous performance in recent years. But despite being passed by Apple in the revenue metric, Microsoft continued to hold off Apple in quarterly profits due to the high profit margins achievable with its software business.

That finally changed this past quarter, with Microsoft today announcing net profit of $5.23 billion for the first calendar quarter (third fiscal quarter) of 2011. Apple last week reported profits of $5.99 billion over the same period, which corresponded to the company's second fiscal quarter of 2011.

Apple has passed its longtime rival Microsoft in a number of metrics over the past year, beginning with market capitalization back in late May 2010. Apple's market cap is now nearly $100 billion higher than Microsoft's.

Article Link: Apple Beats Microsoft in First Quarter Profit

 

[vincenz]

I'm trying to imagine Ballmer squirming.

 

[MrNomNoms]

delete

 

[Mal]

I'm reminded of the famous quote by Steve Jobs (and I'm going from memory, so it may not be word-for-word here):

"People need to let go of this notion that for Apple to win, Microsoft has to lose."

I doubt Microsoft is squirming or scared. They're still making gobs of money. They're accomplishing what their business is intended to do, which is make those gobs of money. They don't really care that much whether Apple makes more, only whether they can make more.

jW